US 6,785,990 B2Granted

Device for and method of displaying messages

OwnerDavid A. Tomlin, Gordon H. Curtissinventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A device for and method of displaying messages is provided which includes a portable control cabinet having electric power supplied externally. A timing device is provided which controls opening and closing of a hinged member, for example a car hood. The hinged member is attached with a visual display. A lifting device elevates the hinged member away from a lower surface to stretchably reveal display. A method of displaying a message is also provided.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A device for displaying messages which comprises:

a. a control unit which comprises:
i. a case, said case having a front half and a back half;
ii. an electricity supply cord adapted for connection to a standard wall socket providing electric power to a portable control cabinet and extending into said case;
iii. an activating means, said activating means located within said case to which is attached said electricity supply cord;
iv. an air pressure regulator, said air pressure regulator located within said case, having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet extending through said case for attachment thereto of an air supply hose for supply of air from an air tank;
v. a regulated air hose, said regulated air hose located within said case, having an inlet end and an outlet end, connected at said inlet end to said outlet of said air pressure regulator;
vi. a solenoid valve, said solenoid valve located within said case, having a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, constructed such that when electricity is provided to said solenoid valve, said first opening and said third opening communicate and when electricity is not provided to said solenoid valve, said second opening and said third opening communicate, to said first opening is attached said outlet end of said regulated air hose;
vii. an air discharge hose, said air discharge hose attached to said second opening of said solenoid valve;
viii. an air bag air hose, said air bag air hose having a unit end and a bag end, said unit end being attached to said third opening of said solenoid valve;
ix. a control circuit cord, said control circuit cord attached to said activation means and to said solenoid valve carrying electricity from said activation means to said solenoid valve;
b. a surface lifting device, said surface lifting device is placed upon a lower surface below an upper surface which comprises a bottom air bag attached to said bag end of said air bag air hose;
and
c. a visual display, said visual display is attached to said lower surface and said upper surface such that when said surface lifting device is activated said visual display is visible and stretched from said lower surface to said upper surface.

10 more elements

A method of displaying a message, comprising the steps of:

(1) placing a message upon a sheet of collapsible material, wherein said sheet having an upper edge and a lower edge;
(2) connecting said sheet at said lower edge of said sheet to a front edge of a lower surface;
(3) connecting said sheet at said upper edge of said sheet to a front edge of an upper surface;
(4) connecting a back edge of said lower surface to a back edge of said upper surface in a hinged manner;
(5) placing an elevating means in between said lower surface and said upper surface and behind said sheet in order to elevate said front edge of said upper surface away from said front edge of said lower surface, thereby stretching said sheet to reveal said message;
and
(6) controlling said elevating means by a control means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A device for displaying messages which comprises:

a. a control unit which comprises:
i. a case, said case having a front half and a back half;
ii. an electricity supply cord adapted for connection to a standard wall socket providing electric power to a portable control cabinet and extending into said case;
iii. an activating means, said activating means located within said case to which is attached said electricity supply cord;
iv. an air pressure regulator, said air pressure regulator located within said case, having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet extending through said case for attachment thereto of an air supply hose for supply of air from an air tank;
v. a regulated air hose, said regulated air hose located within said case, having an inlet end and an outlet end, connected at said inlet end to said outlet of said air pressure regulator;
vi. a solenoid valve, said solenoid valve located within said case, having a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, constructed such that when electricity is provided to said solenoid valve, said first opening and said third opening communicate and when electricity is not provided to said solenoid valve, said second opening and said third opening communicate, to said first opening is attached said outlet end of said regulated air hose;
vii. an air discharge hose, said air discharge hose attached to said second opening of said solenoid valve;
viii. an air bag air hose, said air bag air hose having a unit end and a bag end, said unit end being attached to said third opening of said solenoid valve;
ix. a control circuit cord, said control circuit cord attached to said activation means and to said solenoid valve carrying electricity from said activation means to said solenoid valve;
b. a surface lifting device, said surface lifting device is placed upon a lower surface below an upper surface which comprises a bottom air bag attached to said bag end of said air bag air hose;
and
c. a visual display, said visual display is attached to said lower surface and said upper surface such that when said surface lifting device is activated said visual display is visible and stretched from said lower surface to said upper surface.

10 more elements